From Waste to Value: Green Skills for a Circular Future and Erasmus+ Youth Exchange

From August 18 to 30, including the travelling days, we took part in the Erasmus+ project.  After a long journey, we arrived tired, but we were also excited about the week ahead. The interesting programs started the next day, and we quickly got into the mood.  

At the beginning, we played different team-building games and did a scavenger hunt, which helped us get to know each other better because we did it together.  During the project, we learned a lot about sustainability, recycling, waste management and the circular economy. We took part in many workshops and group activities where we had to be creative and work together. We made art from waste, created sustainable business ideas and talked about fast fashion and its effects on the environment. We even exchanged old clothes and finished the topic with a fun fashion show. We also visited the Humana Factory in Vilnius, which was an interesting experience. This was one of my favorite parts of the project since we were able to get a glimpse behind the scenes of the facility’s operations. 

Besides the environmental topics, we had cultural evenings, visited Kaunas (City tour+ our accommodation was there) and Vilnius and learned about the other countries in the project.  In the end, we created environmental campaigns and looked back at everything we had done. We finished the project by writing letters to each other. It was a really great experience, and we went home with new knowledge, memories and friendships. 

 Fancsali Róza

Getting a chance to participate in the 2026 “From Waste to Value” Erasmus youth exchange was an eye opening experience for me. Before the programme I had little knowledge about the correct ways to reuse and recycle specific materials/items.   

During the project we’ve learnt about various ways to lower the waste we produce. These were taught through presentations, workshops, and interactive programs. For me, the interactive programs helped the most in understanding the topic as a whole.  I enjoyed the fact that almost every topic we covered was as interesting and entertaining as it could be. The presenters were well prepared and had full knowledge about the topics. My personal favourite trip was the one to Vilnius where we could tour the Humana facility. The community was very friendly and welcoming, although the first day it was a bit challenging, as everyone was sort of shy.  

Overall, this project has given me all but bad experiences, and I made a lot of new friends and fun memories that will last. 

Kramer Barnabás

This was my first Erasmus, so I was quite concerned about how it would be.  

The 24 hour trip to Kaunas was a bit rough, but we spent our time preparing for the cultural night and for the workshop, which was an extremely useful experience, to learn, how to make activities for our generation, that are both informative and enjoyable. 

The accomondation was way above my expectations, we had nice, tidy and clean rooms with our own bathrooms. We also had public spaces, to chat and play card games with the others. I was greatful to have the opportunity to use the washing machine and to change our towels. 

The programme was really varied and well organised. The day always started with an energizer, than we deepened our knowledge by making and watching videos, creating digital and non-digital posters, crafting by hand, interviewing people and thinking about problems as CEOs. During these programmes I gained plenty of knowledge about sustainability, the circular and linear economy, recycling, upcycling and downcycling. 

My favourite activity was the study visit to Vilnius, because it was nice to step out of the activity room for a while and experience the structure of the Humana sorting centre. Besides the study visit to Vilnius, I loved the cultural nights, where I learned a lot about other countries culture. 

Despite my concerns I am happy to say, that this Erasmus turned out great! 

Báder Amina 

From August 18 to 30, including the travelling days, we took part in the Erasmus+ project “From Waste to Value: Green Skills for a Circular Future”. After a long journey, we arrived tired, but we were also excited about the week ahead. The interesting programs started the next day, and we quickly got into the mood.  

At the beginning, we played different team-building games and did a scavenger hunt, which helped us get to know each other better because we did it together. During the project, we learned a lot about sustainability, recycling, waste management and the circular economy. We took part in many workshops and group activities where we had to be creative and work together. We made art from waste, created sustainable business ideas and talked about fast fashion and its effects on the environment. We even exchanged old clothes and finished the topic with a fun fashion show. We also visited the Humana Factory in Vilnius, which was an interesting experience. This was one of my favorite parts of the project since we were able to get a glimpse behind the scenes of the facility’s operations. 

Besides the environmental topics, we had cultural evenings, visited Kaunas (City tour+ our accommodation was there) and Vilnius and learned about the other countries in the project. In the end, we created environmental campaigns and looked back at everything we had done. We finished the project by writing letters to each other. It was a really great experience, and we went home with new knowledge, memories and friendships. 

 Hurtik Levente

During August of 2026 from the 18th until the 31th I have particapated in the Youth Exchange titled „From Waste to Value” which concerned itself with teaching the youth about sustainability and the principles of circular economy.  

All in all there were around 10 participants from the countries of Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, and of course, Hungary. We, as the Hungarian team travelled together with train and bus to the project’s location which was held in Kaunas, Lithuania. Our venue was located inside a functioning monastery and most of our activites were held in this building or near it.  

Along with activites organised by the project’s hosts there were many other kinds of events, such as cultural nights, workshops organised by the different national teams and activites in outside places such as the study visit to Vilnius.  

I really enjoyed all the activites, but especially the ones which were organised by our peers because they were very engaging and relatable. I also enjoyed the cultural nights during which I could enjoy the different foods, games and dances of all the particapating countries. We also had a very interesting and informative visit to one of Humana’s facilities in Vilnius which I found quite enjoyable.  

All in all I think the project was a great experience. I really enjoyed the workshops, the city itself, our accommodation and first and foremost the wonderful people who particapated. 

Kovács Kázmér 

Taking part in the “From Waste to Value” youth exchange was a valuable experience for me. Even though I had already learnt about waste management in school, this project still gave me new perspectives, and it was interesting to see how differently countries deal with the same environmental problems. Being my first Erasmus project meeting people from other countries made it even more special.  

The exchange programme combined workshops, group work and culture evenings in a balanced manner with each activity being related to the theme of the event. The first few days of the exchange were quite challenging, but further the atmosphere became more relaxed later on. My personal highlight of this project was the morning of transforming waste into art. It was truly exciting to witness how garbage is turned into something that can be meaningful and creative.  

I think that the organizers were very well-prepared with lots of materials, experts and activities for us and the kitchen staff was very friendly as well. 

Nagy Kinga

My Erasmus experience in Kaunas was very interesting and exciting. We learned a lot about recycling, circular economy and environmental awareness. During the workshops, we played fun warm-up games, watched interesting presentations, made posters and worked in different groups. We also visited a big Humana warehouse in Vilnius, where a kind man explained how it works and what happens to the donated clothes. I learned many new and interesting things there. My favourite programme was the Traditional Night, where everyone showed a song and traditional food from their country. I loved the Polish caramel and Romanian jam. We, Hungarians, performed the Devil’s Dance. I also enjoyed exploring Vilnius with my friends. 

Koós Hanna

During the Erasmus Youth Exchange “From Waste to Value” in Lithuania, we spent ten days learning about environmental protection, sustainability and the circular economy. After team-building activities, we explored the basics of circular economy and recycling, and compared linear and circular economic models by examining the life cycle of different products. 

We learned about reusing, rethinking, repairing and recycling, as well as the challenges of upcycling and downcycling. During a workshop, we worked on solutions to local waste problems and presented our ideas creatively. We also learned about ecological footprints and the environmental impact of fast fashion. One of the most enjoyable activities was transforming old clothes into new products, which we later presented in a fashion show. 

We also had a study visit to a Humana clothing sorting and distribution facility, where we could see how clothes are processed and sorted. In Kaunas, we explored practical waste-prevention and recycling solutions, such as PET bottle return machines and selective waste collection. At the end of the project, we created our own environmental awareness campaigns. 

Overall, I learned a lot about sustainability and waste management, while meeting new people, making friends and developing personally. 

Szűcs Áron Márk 

I applied to the “From Waste to Value” project because I was already interested in environmental issues and wanted to learn more. During the project, I learned a lot about the circular economy, waste reduction and the environmental problems our planet is facing. It made me realise how serious these issues really are. 

One of the most memorable activities was learning about fast fashion. We brought old clothes from home, exchanged them, and then upcycled some of them into something new. At the end of the day, we had a fashion show where everyone presented their creations. It was a great example of how something that one person no longer needs can become valuable to someone else. 

We also visited a Humana factory, where we saw how around 150 tons of clothes are sorted every day. Seeing this made me realise how important it is to think twice before buying something new. 

The project also changed some of my everyday habits. I want to use less plastic, pay more attention to my choices and buy more local food. I have also started sharing what I learned with my friends. Besides the knowledge, I met amazing people from different countries and made friendships that I hope will last for a long time. 

Prekopp Panna

The Erasmus+ youth exchange “From Waste to Value” was an inspiring experience that helped us understand the importance of recycling, upcycling and sustainable living. Throughout the week, we explored how everyday waste can be transformed into useful resources rather than simply being thrown away. We discussed environmental policies, circular economy principles and the challenges of waste management in different communities. Through practical workshops, we learned creative ways to reuse materials and give them a second life. We also examined local environmental problems and considered possible solutions. Working in international teams allowed us to exchange ideas, improve our communication skills and learn from different perspectives. Cultural evenings and group activities helped us build friendships and develop a stronger sense of European identity. The exchange encouraged us to reflect on our daily habits and showed us that even small changes can contribute to a more sustainable future. Overall, we returned home with new knowledge, practical skills and greater motivation to protect our environment.

Gyenes-Bodon Aurél

Taking part in the “From Waste to Value” project was a really valuable experience for me, both personally and professionally. As a teacher participating in the project, I was able to learn alongside the young people and see how different activities can make environmental topics easier and more interesting to understand. 

During the programme, we explored the circular economy, recycling, waste reduction, ecological footprint and fast fashion. I especially enjoyed the practical activities, because they showed that environmental education does not have to be only about theory. The upcycling activity, for example, gave everyone the chance to turn old clothes into something new and useful. The visit to the Humana factory was also very interesting, as seeing the huge amount of clothes being processed made the problem of overconsumption much more real. 

As a participant, I also had the opportunity to exchange ideas with people from different countries and learn from their experiences. It was interesting to see how the different groups approached the same environmental topics in completely different ways. 

I believe the project gave me not only new knowledge, but also ideas that I can use in my own work with young people. Most importantly, it reminded me that even small changes in our everyday habits can have an impact, especially when we encourage others to make those changes too. 

 Ottinger Viola